Interview with Jie Chen
1. Please tell us something about your background and your art journey so far.
I grew up in a Chinese family where both of my parents introduced me to art at a very young age. I began painting when I was just two, using my parent's notebook and the blank spaces on calendars as my canvas. This love for art continued throughout my school years, where I would often make random sketches in my textbooks.
However, during my secondary school years, I became distanced from art as academic pressures took over. This period of feeling lost and anxious made me realize just how essential art was in my life. Despite the heavy academic load, I made it a point to dedicate my Friday and Saturday nights to sketching and improving my skills. It became a form of therapy during my Grade 10 year, a time when I truly understood my deep need for art.
It was then that I made a pivotal decision: to focus on art as my future. I asked my parents to support me in studying abroad in Canada, where I could take art classes and eventually attend an art and design college. Thankfully, they were supportive of my decision. I later enrolled in Parsons, where I majored in fashion design, leading me to where I am today—living and breathing art and design as my career.
2. Can you tell us more about the theme in your art and your inspiration?
The theme of my art centers on the tension between fantasy and reality, often infused with dark humor. I draw inspiration from the real world, but I transform it into metaphorical visuals through surreal storytelling. My work is deeply driven by a fascination with exploring the ultimate truths of the universe—questions like how the universe was created and where we come from. These existential mysteries fuel my creativity as I craft stories that visualize my interpretations of these concepts.
I create original genesis and surreal narratives that are grounded in our real world, with the hope of raising awareness about pressing social issues, as well as humanity's behavior toward nature and the universe. I aim to provoke thought and reflection, offering a unique perspective on our current reality.
As an interdisciplinary artist, I embrace multiple mediums to tell my stories. I am a fashion designer, illustrator, and storyteller, and each project is an opportunity to merge these forms. I begin by developing a narrative, then create illustrations to visually tell the story, and finally translate it into wearable, functional fashion garments. In every project, I challenge myself to learn something new, experimenting with various mediums. For example, I create 3D pop-up books and even video games to bring my vision to life in interactive ways.
My passion for combining different art forms allows me to tell my stories in the most impactful and immersive way possible. I want to continue conducting and unifying various creative disciplines to better explore and imagine the universe through my work.
3. Could you share any difficulties and hardships you had to face in life and how
or if you managed/overcame them?
The biggest hardship I experienced was peer pressure. Before entering the broader art field, I was the best painter in my class and felt proud of my skills. But with the rise of social media, I saw countless young artists with better techniques and concepts, gaining more exposure and recognition. This made me feel insecure and left behind. I became afraid to share my work, caught in a cycle of perfectionism, constantly worried about how my art would be judged and how many likes it would get. It felt hopeless—why improve when others were so much better?
However, after talking to friends and fellow artists, I realized that imposter syndrome is a shared experience. Many creatives face similar doubts about their talent and career choices. Understanding that this is a common feeling helped me feel less alone and more at ease with myself. It taught me not to be so hard on myself and that these struggles are part of the journey.
4. What practical advice can you give to fellow artists?
The most practical advice I can offer is to practice and sketch regularly. Consistent sketching is the key to bringing your visions to life more vividly and effectively. It’s crucial to master the basics—human anatomy, light and shadow, color theory, and other foundational principles that are often overlooked. While some "artists" skip these fundamentals in favor of abstract concepts, I believe true art is built on solid technical knowledge.
Once you’ve honed your techniques, you’ll have a stronger foundation to experiment and push boundaries. There are no shortcuts in the creative process—daily practice is essential to developing both skill and aesthetic. It’s also important to study the work of other artists. Imitating others is a natural part of learning, but the goal is to eventually cultivate your own unique style. The more you expose yourself to diverse art forms, the clearer your vision will become. So, I would say, practice regularly, refine your techniques, and draw inspiration from the work of others.
5. Is the artist's life lonely? Please share your thoughts and experiences.
I believe every journey begins in solitude, but I don’t view loneliness as a negative thing. In fact, I deeply enjoy the solitude that comes with my artistic life. It’s one of the reasons I’m so drawn to art—it allows me to spend time alone, with just myself and my thoughts. Art gives me the space to reflect, question, and seek answers in isolation.
During the creative process, I relish the moments when I can clear my mind and focus on problem-solving—deciding how to compose a better image, or experimenting with color combinations to convey the emotions I want to evoke. I enjoy the mental conversations that unfold while I’m working, and they fuel my creativity. However, I also find myself becoming stubborn in this space. Sometimes, I get so absorbed in the solitude of my artistic world that I shut out the voices and advice of others. I’m still learning to balance this independence with the openness to others’ perspectives, and to let go of my obsession with the “lonely artist” stereotype.
Website: https://chenj845.wixsite.com/my-site
Social media: _j1015c